Friday, July 20, 2012

Klein, Dinowitz, Koppell, and BP Diaz Applaud MTA Decision to Return Bx34 Bus Service to Woodlawn

Group Ride Vehicle Will Continue Serving Residents Until Bx34 is Back Online

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, State Senator Jeff Klein, and New York City Council Member Oliver Koppell are pleased to announce restoration of weekend services to the Bx34 bus line, which services parts of Norwood, Woodlawn and Van Cortlandt Village.

The MTA is restoring weekend service for the Bx34 from East 242nd Street to Fordham Road via Bainbridge Avenue as part of a $29 million service investment throughout New York City.  These services were originally reduced as part of the MTA’s 2009-2010 budget-balancing cuts.  The implementation of the service investments will begin in October and continue into the spring of 2013.

"I am extremely pleased that the MTA has listened to the community and its elected officials by restoring Bx34 bus service,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz. “The Bx34 bus is extremely important for the Woodlawn community, and the previous service cutbacks caused extreme inconvenience for many people in that neighborhood. Woodlawn, like other communities in the North Bronx, deserves top notch public transportation services, and this restoration will go a long way towards that goal. I thank the MTA and Board Member Charles Moerdler for this important restoration, and I praise the many Woodlawn residents who spoke loudly and clearly in favor of restoring Bx34 bus services."

“This is a great day for Woodlawn.  When the MTA cut Bx34 service two years ago it was a real blow to the community,” Senator Klein said. “This restoration of service is a true testament to the power of both community organizing and legislative teamwork.”

Senator Klein also noted the positive impact of the Woodlawn Group Ride Vehicle, a transportation alternative launched earlier this year by Senator Klein and Assemblyman Dinowitz, in conjunction with the Taxi and Limousine Commissioner David Yassky and the van’s operator, Carl Gomes.

“The group ride vehicle was a great success, not only in transporting residents, but in showing the MTA that there was a real need for Bx34 service,” Senator Klein said. “We applaud the MTA’s decision to restore service and look forward to a swift implementation. In the meantime, Assemblyman Dinowitz and I will ensure that the group ride vehicle continues to serve the residents of Woodlawn.”

“I am pleased that the MTA has heard our concerns and the pleas of the community, who were left stranded by the loss of overnight and weekend Bx34 bus service,” said Council Member Koppell.

Borough President Diaz also thanked MTA Chairman and CEO Joseph Lhota as well as the borough’s two representatives on the MTA Board of Directors—Fernando Ferrer and Charles Moerdler—for their work to make these service expansions possible. He also thanked those elected officials and community organizations that worked together with his office and each other to advocate for these new and restored services, including City Council Transportation Committee Chairman James Vacca, State Senator Jeff Klein, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, and City Council Member G. Oliver Koppell.

The MTA announced the creation of new bus service for western Hunts Point and Barretto Point Park, a project that has been a high priority for Borough President Diaz for several years. The MTA also announced that they would extend the Bx13 bus line to the Gateway Center Mall, the restoration of weekend service on the Bx34 that serves Woodlawn, Norwood, Bedford Park and Fordham, and expanded service on the three Metro North lines that serve the Bronx.


 
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